1. The Treasury introduced a tradition of publishing
annual Pre-Budget Reports (PBRs) in 1997. It described their purpose
as being to "launch a national debate on important economic
issues, including taxation and spending, [ ] to inform the
Government's Budget decisions."[1]

2. This year's PBRentitled Facing global
challenges: Supporting people through difficult timeswas
published at a time of economic turmoil.[2]
In response to these economic conditions, the Pre-Budget Report
announced a number of measures, including a fiscal stimulus package,
"bringing forward £3 billion of capital spending from
2010-11 into 2009-10 and 2008-09 for housing, education, transport
and other construction projects, supporting industries and jobs
across the country".[3]
Approximately one-sixth of this fiscal stimulus package was given
over to specifically environmental objectives.[4]

3. The PBR stressed:

Action to achieve environmental goals remains a high
priority for the Government in current economic circumstances.
The Government is putting in place policies and investment to
support a low-carbon recovery, with new jobs and businesses created
through green growth. Government policies are driving £50
billion of investment in the low-carbon sector over three years.[5]

4. The PBR also:

increased fuel duty by two
pence per litre (though this will be offset by the reduction of
VAT);

reduced the differential levels of Vehicle Excise
Duty for cars bought since 2001 that had been announced in the
2008 Budget;

abandoned the proposal to turn Air Passenger
Duty (APD) into a 'per-plane' rather than 'per passenger' charge;
but reformed it by moving from two to four distance bands;

extended the duration of the Renewables Obligation
to provide financial support for large-scale renewable electricity,
and introducing a feed-in tariff for small-scale renewable electricity;

called on the European Commission to bring forward
a proposal to introduce reduced VAT rates for energy efficient
products as soon as possible;